I liked this movie a lot as a kid. Morgan Freeman really helped. My best memory from this movie is in 6th grade my history teacher was tired of teaching history and two classes lnked up to watch this in the hopes it would do the job for her. Best part of the film is during the catapult scene when Christian Slater says, "Fuck me! He cleared it."
My teachers face turned beat red and we laughed until we could laugh no more.
The most interesting representation of Robin Hood on film was the UK TV series starring Richard Greene. Greene had a similar swashbuckling style to Errol Flynn but it was a co-pro with US production talent that had a particular sympathy for the hero’s redistribution of wealth as explained by this Wikipedia entry:
“The Adventures of Robin Hood was produced by Hannah Weinstein who had left-wing political views. The series was explicitly created by Weinstein to enable the commissioning of scripts by Hollywood Blacklist American writers.
Among these were Ring Lardner Jr., Waldo Salt, Robert Lees and Adrian Scott.
Howard Koch who was also blacklisted, served for a while as the series Script Editor.
The blacklisted writers were credited under pseudonyms, to avoid the attention of studio executives.
The sponsored prints of the first five episodes of series one, screened by CBS in the US on its first run, had no writer credits on their end title sequences; writers were only credited on sponsored prints from episode 6 onward, only later non-sponsored US re-run prints of series one have writer credits for these episodes, some of which differ from writer credits on UK prints. As an example, Lawrence McClellan is credited as writer of "The Coming of Robin Hood" on US prints, for the UK the pseudonym used is Eric Heath.
After the blacklist collapsed, Lardner said that the series' format allowed him "plenty of opportunities to comment on issues and institutions in Eisenhower-era America"
For my money no Robin Hood has equaled the Flynn epic but I have a bit of a soft spot for the Sean Connery - Audrey Hepburn “Robin and Marian” from the 70s mostly because of an insignificant sequence showing some of the Sheriff’s men training where one breaks from sword fighting to lean on his heavy blade and gasp “Shit I’m tired” showing that fighting with English broadswords was a little less athletic and graceful than depicted by Flynn and Basil Rathbone.. It wasn’t a great picture but it had similar elements of realism throughout that were groundbreaking for sword operas.
I totally agree with you on the superlative quality of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" from 1938. I doubt any other actor will ever be able to don the Lincoln green as convincingly as Errol Flynn.
OMG - yes John so yes. I could have written every point you write here. I love it exactly the same way you do, right down to you accurately stating that the Ewok like treehouse village is the coolest. I also agree with everything negative you said, accents, historical inaccuracy, the third act. This movie is the definition of a beautiful disaster! One word of caution for any new viewers. This is very much a movie of its time. I showed it to my teenage sons this year (FYI they had seen the Matrix). To say they disliked it would be a colossal understatement - they almost disowned me. They will never let me live down my love for this movie, but love it I do. Also so very yes about the Bodyguard. I love that movie!
I was also a gross teenager when I saw this, and yes, i did enjoy it then. I haven't watched it in awhile, but I don't know how I'd feel now. I definitely have grown tired of the song. How is lying for someone a show of love for them? Don't lie!
If you want a real modern-take on Robin Hood, though, I actually wrote a comic called Robin Hood: outlaw of the 21st Century #alwaysbeplugging: https://www.robinhoodcomicbook.com/
To the trees!!! Smiled the whole way through reading this. Loved this film and it’s still my favourite Robin movie - got to love a Scottish king popping in at the end.
Thank you for this! It’s a dark dank Tuesday morning in the UK and this has taken me straight back to hanging out at the new multiplex with my Dad. About the age my daughter is now! I’ve been in a Sense and Sensibility bubble lately, so yes the loss of AR was deeply felt. This was my first Rickman rodeo, came to TMD when I was older and wiser. We’ve also recently lost another Robin Hood POT icon, the Sycamore Gap tree 🌳 Again thank you—loved every moment of reading this, off to revel in thoughts of the catapult!
It is silly and fun, and an affectionate look at the Star Trek, etc. fandom. Nice mix of movie and tv stars, and Sigourney Weaver is great (nice outfit). Laughing emoji
I liked this movie a lot as a kid. Morgan Freeman really helped. My best memory from this movie is in 6th grade my history teacher was tired of teaching history and two classes lnked up to watch this in the hopes it would do the job for her. Best part of the film is during the catapult scene when Christian Slater says, "Fuck me! He cleared it."
My teachers face turned beat red and we laughed until we could laugh no more.
The most interesting representation of Robin Hood on film was the UK TV series starring Richard Greene. Greene had a similar swashbuckling style to Errol Flynn but it was a co-pro with US production talent that had a particular sympathy for the hero’s redistribution of wealth as explained by this Wikipedia entry:
“The Adventures of Robin Hood was produced by Hannah Weinstein who had left-wing political views. The series was explicitly created by Weinstein to enable the commissioning of scripts by Hollywood Blacklist American writers.
Among these were Ring Lardner Jr., Waldo Salt, Robert Lees and Adrian Scott.
Howard Koch who was also blacklisted, served for a while as the series Script Editor.
The blacklisted writers were credited under pseudonyms, to avoid the attention of studio executives.
The sponsored prints of the first five episodes of series one, screened by CBS in the US on its first run, had no writer credits on their end title sequences; writers were only credited on sponsored prints from episode 6 onward, only later non-sponsored US re-run prints of series one have writer credits for these episodes, some of which differ from writer credits on UK prints. As an example, Lawrence McClellan is credited as writer of "The Coming of Robin Hood" on US prints, for the UK the pseudonym used is Eric Heath.
After the blacklist collapsed, Lardner said that the series' format allowed him "plenty of opportunities to comment on issues and institutions in Eisenhower-era America"
For my money no Robin Hood has equaled the Flynn epic but I have a bit of a soft spot for the Sean Connery - Audrey Hepburn “Robin and Marian” from the 70s mostly because of an insignificant sequence showing some of the Sheriff’s men training where one breaks from sword fighting to lean on his heavy blade and gasp “Shit I’m tired” showing that fighting with English broadswords was a little less athletic and graceful than depicted by Flynn and Basil Rathbone.. It wasn’t a great picture but it had similar elements of realism throughout that were groundbreaking for sword operas.
I totally agree with you on the superlative quality of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" from 1938. I doubt any other actor will ever be able to don the Lincoln green as convincingly as Errol Flynn.
Shout outs to both The Abyss and Truly, Madly, Deeply! I so here for this whole essay.
OMG - yes John so yes. I could have written every point you write here. I love it exactly the same way you do, right down to you accurately stating that the Ewok like treehouse village is the coolest. I also agree with everything negative you said, accents, historical inaccuracy, the third act. This movie is the definition of a beautiful disaster! One word of caution for any new viewers. This is very much a movie of its time. I showed it to my teenage sons this year (FYI they had seen the Matrix). To say they disliked it would be a colossal understatement - they almost disowned me. They will never let me live down my love for this movie, but love it I do. Also so very yes about the Bodyguard. I love that movie!
When I finally saw this movie, I could no longer understand why Men in Tights was made: it's already so completely farcical.
I was also a gross teenager when I saw this, and yes, i did enjoy it then. I haven't watched it in awhile, but I don't know how I'd feel now. I definitely have grown tired of the song. How is lying for someone a show of love for them? Don't lie!
If you want a real modern-take on Robin Hood, though, I actually wrote a comic called Robin Hood: outlaw of the 21st Century #alwaysbeplugging: https://www.robinhoodcomicbook.com/
Good work, as always!
To the trees!!! Smiled the whole way through reading this. Loved this film and it’s still my favourite Robin movie - got to love a Scottish king popping in at the end.
This movie was absolutely ubiquitous when it came out. You couldn't escape it!
The MTV video!
Great review. Haven’t seen this since the theaters in ‘91 so I’m sure I’ve forgotten a lot, but I was nodding along as I read. I think you nailed it.
Thank you for this! It’s a dark dank Tuesday morning in the UK and this has taken me straight back to hanging out at the new multiplex with my Dad. About the age my daughter is now! I’ve been in a Sense and Sensibility bubble lately, so yes the loss of AR was deeply felt. This was my first Rickman rodeo, came to TMD when I was older and wiser. We’ve also recently lost another Robin Hood POT icon, the Sycamore Gap tree 🌳 Again thank you—loved every moment of reading this, off to revel in thoughts of the catapult!
Rickman made everything worth watching—-even “Galaxy Quest!” Gone much too soon.
I love the entire Galaxy Quest cast (even Tim Allen) but lord Rickman was next level
It is silly and fun, and an affectionate look at the Star Trek, etc. fandom. Nice mix of movie and tv stars, and Sigourney Weaver is great (nice outfit). Laughing emoji
"even" Galaxy Quest?
you say that like Galaxy Quest isn't a great movie on its own.
I have never seen Galaxy Quest and obviously need to remedy this quickly!
I think it’s a charming big budget comedy a la Ghostbusters, and it also features Sigourney Weaver, an underrated comedic actor
OK, I’m in. Can never hear (or indeed read) the words Sigourney Weaver and not think of Finding Dory!
As a kid I adored this movie and your write up got me hankering for a re-watch.